Pre-Exam Mode

What is E-commerce?

E-commerce is the use of the Internet, the Web, and mobile apps and browsers to transact business. According to Laudon and Traver, it is more formally defined as digitally enabled commercial transactions between and among organizations and individuals.

Difference between E-commerce and E-business

Although e-commerce and e-business are often used interchangeably, Laudon and Traver draw a working distinction: e-commerce involves commercial transactions that cross firm boundaries, whereas e-business is the digital enabling of transactions and processes within a firm.

Eight unique features of E-commerce technology

E-commerce technologies have eight unique features that distinguish them from traditional commerce. According to Laudon and Traver, these features both challenge traditional business thinking and explain why e-commerce has generated so much interest.

Introduction to Web 2.0

Web 2.0 refers to a set of applications and technologies that enable user-generated content, transforming e-commerce from 2007 onward into a social, mobile, and local phenomenon.

Types of E-commerce

E-commerce is classified by the nature of the market relationship — who is selling to whom. Laudon and Traver identify three principal types (B2C, B2B, C2C) and three important subsets (mobile, social, and local e-commerce).

Internet

The Internet is a worldwide network of computer networks built on common standards. It carries e-commerce through three key technology concepts: packet switching, TCP/IP, and client/server computing.

Internet protocols

Internet protocols are the rules and standards that govern data transfer on the Internet. The core protocol is TCP/IP, which is divided into four layers, with the Application Layer containing the protocols most visible to e-commerce users.

Utility programs

Internet utility programs are helper tools that run on clients and servers to provide services such as checking connections and tracing message paths. Laudon and Traver describe two key utilities: Ping and Tracert.

Security threats in e-commerce environment

From a technology perspective, e-commerce has three key points of vulnerability — the client, the server, and the communications pipeline. Laudon and Traver identify many common and damaging security threats at each of these points.

Malicious code

Malicious code (malware) is a major category of e-commerce security threat. According to Laudon and Traver, it includes a variety of threats such as viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, and bots.